Sixteen

Starr and her family ride a limo to a downtown hotel for a national interview arranged by Ms. Ofrah, a week before Starr testifies to the grand jury. Neighbors signal support, and Starr wrestles with anxiety while juggling texts from Chris about prom. At the hotel, producer John and anchor Diane Carey greet them and stage walk-and-talk shots before moving to a top-floor suite.

On camera, Diane asks who Khalil was. Starr remembers him as a funny, big-hearted kid and corrects media narratives. Despite Ms. Ofrah’s caution, Starr reveals Khalil sold drugs only to protect his addicted mother from King, the neighborhood’s top dealer, and that he was not a gang member. She criticizes how media focus on Khalil’s alleged wrongdoing implies his death was justified.

Starr recounts the traffic stop: she and Khalil complied, Khalil checked on her, and Officer Cruise fired. Overcome with grief, she describes holding Khalil as he died and discloses—new to most of her family—that the officer kept his gun trained on her until others arrived.

Asked about police, Starr acknowledges her uncle is an officer but condemns assumptions about Black people that led to Khalil’s death and nearly hers. She concludes that if Officer Cruise were present, she’d ask if he wished he had shot her too, a statement that amplifies public impact and potential retaliation from King.